City Commission Meeting (2025-01-20)

1/20/2025 / 1 LONGWOOD CITY COMMISSION Longwood City Commission Chambers 175 West Warren Avenue Longwood, Florida MINUTES January 20, 2025 6:00 PM Present: Mayor Matthew McMillan Deputy Mayor Brian D. Sackett Commissioner Abby Shoemaker Commissioner Tony Boni Commissioner Matt Morgan Dan Langley, City Attorney Clint Gioielli, City Manager Michelle Longo, City Clerk David Dowda, Police Chief Chris Kintner, Community Development Director 1. CALL TO ORDER. Mayor McMillan called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 2. OPENING INVOCATION. Rabbi Jacob Rodriguez, with Congregation Rebirth Church gave the invocation. 3. THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. Commissioner Shoemaker led the Pledge of Allegiance. 4. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS. Ms. Longo read the following announcement. A. The City of Longwood and the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office will host an International Overdose Awareness Day Event on Thursday, January 30, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., at Reiter Park, 311 West Warren Avenue. This is a free event. 5. PROCLAMATIONS / RECOGNITIONS A. District #4 Presentation of the Business Person of the Month Award for January 2025 to Matt Hancock, President of AC Cowboys, 275 South U.S. Highway 17-92, Longwood. Commissioner Morgan read a brief biography on Matt Hancock, then presented him with the Business Person of the Month for January 2025. Photographs were then taken. B. Presentation of the Beautification Award to Baywood Center, 1604 North Ronald Reagan Boulevard. Commissioner Morgan presented Moe Musleem, plaza owner of Legacy Center (formally Baywood Center) with the Beautification Award Certificate and photographs were then taken. C. Presentation of the recipient of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Good Citizenship Award to Michael

1/20/2025 / 2 Radka. Commissioner Boni read a Proclamation recognizing Michael Radka and presented him with the Martin Luther King, Jr. Good Citizenship Award. Photographs were then taken. D. Presentation of the recipient of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Good Citizenship Award to Erik Swenk. Commissioner Morgan read a Proclamation recognizing Erik Swenk and presented him with the Martin Luther King, Jr. Good Citizenship Award. Photographs were then taken. 6. BOARD APPOINTMENTS A. District #2 Nomination to the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board. Nomination was deferred to the next meeting. 7. PUBLIC INPUT A. Public Participation. None. 8. MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS’ REPORT A. District #3. Mayor McMillan congratulated the Martin Luther King Jr. Good Citizenship Award recipients. He wished everyone a Happy New Year, thanked staff for all their work on events, and for the prayers for his mother, who is still in the hospital. He mentioned that Inauguration Day is today and congratulated President Trump, Vice President Vance, new Senator Ashley Moody, Senator Rick Scott, and Representative Cory Mills, who started their new terms. He noted that Senator Jason Brodeur was appointed as Senator President Pro Tempore, and Representative Rachel Plakon was beginning her new term. He also stated that Governor DeSantis has called a special session. He said he would participate in the 2025 Florida League of Cities Legislation Action Days in March. He mentioned a tragic event that happened: the wildfires in Los Angeles. He stated that it is important that public safety operations are effective, efficient, adequately funded, and staffed with good morale. He noted there was an agenda item that the Commission would be dealing with, and they had to react to an action of a sister city that required us to adjust our budget. He said it is an integral part of his job as a commissioner, and our job as a commission to make sure that we have what we need to be prepared for reasonable, foreseeable events, and that includes adhering to standards set by agencies, like our Department of Emergency Management and FEMA. He stated we often make revisions to things after events like they had in California, because they look at what went right, what went wrong, and then change regulations. Mayor McMillan attended a tour of the new Orlando Health Lake Mary campus during his Leadership Seminole class, which he stated was an impressive tour. He was also impressed that they could move all the patients and the operations in one day from South Seminole Hospital to the new facility. He said the behavioral services and emergency room are still receiving patients in Longwood. The new emergency facility will open soon, and the ribbon-cutting event will occur in a month. He stated we would know soon what will be built in that space. He said there has been a

1/20/2025 / 3 lot of commercial development in the past year, with the additions and completions of The Addison Longwood, Foxtail Coffee, and Huey Magoo's. New businesses and projects will be completed soon in 2025, including Strickland Brothers Oil Change, the next phase of Alta Cypress, Starbucks, and Tasty King Donuts. He hopes to announce soon what will happen at the old Pic ‘n Save property that is no longer owned by the bank and will be developed. For the "true," it was a historical fact that January 28th was the 39th Anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster and listed the names of those who lost their lives. For the "good," was education, where it is privileged to live in a region committed to continuing space, exploration, and commerce. He said late last year, Space Florida announced the establishment of the Florida University Space Research Consortium, which consists of the University of Central Florida, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, and the University of Florida, and Florida is leading the way in providing educational resources to jobs in this sector. He heard at the Legislative Delegation meeting a few weeks ago, where State representatives come to the Seminole County Commission Meeting Chambers and listen to citizens, that the Superintendent of Seminole Schools, Ms. Beaman, mentioned that their legislative goal was to secure funding for a Space Magnet Development Engineering Program for Lyman High School. For the "beautiful," he quoted Martin Luther King Jr. in observance of his birthday, "If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way." District #4. Commissioner Morgan mentioned that on December 17, he said the opening prayer at the Christian Sharing Center's Annual Christmas breakfast. Commissioner Boni filled in for him at the Apopka Christmas parade judging, and Commissioner Morgan participated in a Lake Mary event as Santa Claus in one of their neighborhoods. He wished everyone again a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy New Year. He was proud of the City's involvement with the Hanukkah celebration at Reiter Park. On December 30, he went to the Decision Tactical for Running for Heroes event to support Zechariah Cartiledge, who runs a mile for every hero we lose in the line of duty. He thanked the City of Longwood Police and Fire, who were also there in support. On January 12, he participated in the Longwood Historic Society's food tent, serving drinks and hamburgers. On January 17, he was introduced to the new Board of Directors for Teen Challenge. A new director, AJ Skinner, was also introduced to everyone. On January 18, he had his last Seminole County Opioid Council meeting in preparation for the upcoming Opioid International Overdose Awareness Day in Longwood on January 30 at Reiter Park from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. On January 19, he attended the celebration of life service for Daniel Spak. He stated that in light of the most recent guidance from Florida State Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, who recommends that every Florida city and county no longer add fluoride to the drinking water, he would like to discuss it under Item 9. District #5. Deputy Mayor Sackett wished everyone a Happy New Year and mentioned the horrible events in California and New Orleans. He also commented that he will have two new grandchildren, one in April and the other in May. He thanked Commissioner Boni for his senior events at Northland Church that he has participated in. He commented on past holiday events, including Light Up Longwood and Santa Visits Longwood. On January 8, he attended the Council of Local Governments in Seminole County (CALNO) meeting. He attended the Food Truck Battle & Concert in the Park on January 11. He felt the event needed to be advertised better. He said the La Fonda restaurant would be converted into a Mexican and Thai restaurant. He noted that Longwood Babe Ruth is approaching 400 players for the upcoming season, and the opening ceremony would be held on February 8. He thanked the city manager for his help in dealing with a concern in the Devonshire neighborhood that involved the unacceptable road work and the work being done to lay new fiber, which was affecting properties. He brought up the green cable boxes

1/20/2025 / 4 around the City and how they looked old and beat up, inquiring if anything could be done about them. He was not sure who owned them. Mr. Gioielli asked if he was referring to the metal rectangular green boxes. He stated he would look into them. Deputy Mayor Sackett also mentioned that street signs along Ronald Reagan Boulevard (County Road 427) are leaning, and he would like them addressed. He mentioned having a coyote in his yard today. He also noted that the traffic was backed up due to an accident on State Road 434 last week. He commended the Police Department for keeping calm and dealing with the situation as he observed individuals being uncooperative and yelling. He thought the upcoming Valentine’s Day Card Workshop to create handmade Valentine’s Day cards for children in hospitals across the country was a clever idea, along with the upcoming Strawberry Festival. District #1. Commissioner Shoemaker wished everyone a Happy New Year. She enjoyed the Light up Longwood celebration and congratulated the winners. She commended staff on all they do and expressed gratitude for their public service. District #2. Commissioner Boni wished everyone a Happy New Year and hoped everyone had a great holiday. He congratulated Michael Radka and Eric Swenk for their Martin Luther King Jr. Good Citizenship Award and also AC Cowboys for Business Person of the Month. He commented on Light Up Longwood and thanked the residents for their decorations and the staff for their work on the event. He announced that the Rotary Club of Longwood will host their charity poker tournament with the Rotary Club of Lake Mary. He said they would combine it, and it would be held on February 15. It will support each of their causes. The Rotary Club of Longwood will support Longwood Elementary's literacy program, and Lake Mary will support for Base Camp for their program over the summer. He attended the grand opening of the new Orlando Health in Lake Mary. He shared some personal health issues he had been dealing with and commented on his experience at Orlando Health and how great the staff was. 9. COMMISSION AND STAFF ADDITIONS OR CHANGES A. ADDITIONAL ITEMS RAISED DURING MAYOR'S AND COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS Commissioner Morgan discussed the removal of fluoride from the drinking water and passed out some information on the guidance for community water fluoridation from the Florida State Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo. Discussion ensued on the topic, and comments were made regarding fluoride's benefits, pros, and cons, fluoride being unhealthy, community input on the subject, additional research for and against fluoride use in the drinking water, staff to prepare a presentation for the Commission to review and bring back to a further meeting. Also discussed was the process the Commission should follow to decide and have an opportunity to review the options to make a change. Mayor McMillan asked about the metal green boxes and if something could be done per the City Code to address the ones needing maintenance. He wondered if that could also be looked into. B. ANY ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA. None.

1/20/2025 / 5 10. CONSENT AGENDA A. Approve the Minutes of the December 16, 2024, Regular Meeting. B. Approve the Monthly Expenditures for November 2024. C. Approve the Monthly Financial Report for November 2024. Commissioner Morgan moved to approve Items 10A through 10C as presented. Seconded by Commissioner Boni and carried by a unanimous roll call vote. 11. PUBLIC HEARINGS. None. 12. REGULAR BUSINESS A. City Commission to approve the donation of vacation and/or sick leave from city personnel to James “Jim” Pappalardo. Mr. Kintner presented the Item. Commissioner Boni moved to approve Item 12A as presented. Seconded by Commissioner Morgan and carried by a unanimous roll call vote. B. City Commission consideration and approval of a Historic District Matching Grant Application (HG 01-25) for the property located at 192 West Warren Avenue. Mr. Kintner presented the Item. Deputy Mayor Sackett moved to approve the Historic District Matching Grant Application as presented Item 12B. Seconded by Commissioner Shoemaker and carried by a unanimous roll call vote. C. City Commission approval of a salary adjustment for Longwood law enforcement officers. Chief Dowda presented the Item. Discussion ensued on the salary adjustments, the amount of the increase, impacts on the budget, and what incentives are currently being offered to the officers. Deputy Mayor Sackett moved to approve the salary adjustment for Longwood law enforcement officers as presented Item 12C. Seconded by Commissioner Morgan and carried by a unanimous roll call vote. 13. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT Mr. Gioielli thanked the Commission for approving Item 12C. He provided an update on Candyland Sports Complex, stating that there have been work orders set up for the men's bathroom to be repainted into a more pleasant color and that all toilets will be replaced with commercial-grade

1/20/2025 / 6 porcelain. He said they have also ensured all the hand dryers and other fixtures are working, including some replacement of new lighting. He reported that the overhead netting that goes over the fields to protect our visitors will be replaced, and in the summer, there are plans to upgrade the concession stand. He said Longwood is participating in a Valentine's Day Card Workshop, which is on the City's Facebook page. It is partnering with Hospitalized Kids, an internationally recognized charitable organization with a focus on delivering hope, joy, and magic to kids in hospitals through uplifting cards. He said that from January 27 until the 29, from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., you can come to City Hall to drop off a creative card or use what will be provided by the City to create a card. He stated that citizens and staff are invited to come by. He said the Orlando Health transition may still be going on and noted that South Seminole Hospital still has staff there for emergency services. He announced that the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) recognized the City of Longwood, Director Judith Rosado, and her finance team for the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award. 14. CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT. No report. 15. CITY CLERK’S REPORT Ms. Longo reported the 45th Annual JOY “Juvenile of the Year” Awards will be presented at the next meeting on February 3, 2025. There was a change in the date for the 2025 Seminole County Prayer Breakfast to accommodate the Keynote Speaker Jonathan Isaac, an updated calendar invite was sent out with the new date of Monday, February 17 the location was still the same, at the Orlando Marriott Lake Mary. All commissioners have been scheduled to attend the 2025 Annual State of the County Luncheon to be held on Friday, February 14 at the Orlando Marriott Lake Mary. A calendar invite was sent. 16. ADJOURN. Mayor McMillan adjourned the meeting at 7:39 p.m. Minutes approved by City Commission: 02-03-2025. ______________________________ Matthew McMillan, Mayor ATTEST: _________________________ Michelle Longo, MMC, FCRM City Clerk